Crate



CRATE Filed Feb. 18, 1931 Andrew J Afar/iii INVENTOR ATfbRNEv Patented Apr. 11, 1933 NETED STATES.

CRATE Application filed February 18, 1931.

The object of this invention is to provide a crate for use in connection with the pack ing and sale of coal in small sizes, or in any moderate size, and in small quantities, and

' more especially to provide a container formed of elements of such size that they may readily be employed as kindling wood, both the contents and the elements of the structure itself being used in starting a fire, and the entire package being disposed of at one time, so that no empty containers will remain to present an unsightly appearance until such time as a container of ordinary construction would be moved from the room or apartment where a fire is to be kindled.

A further object is to provide a crate to be used with or without an inner sack or the like, depending upon the size of the articles being shipped and sold, and further to provide for the speedy and economical assembly of the elements by unskilled labor, and prompt release of the contents when the user is ready to add any portion thereof to the fire.

A further object is to produce a special slat construction, or rather one in which the securing means comprise only a plurality of wires or cords designed to be engaged by apertures or slotted end portions of the slats or bars, whereby the latter are retained when the ends of the wire or cords have been se cured.

In the drawing forming part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, showing the manner of assembly of the elements of the side walls and bottom. I

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing one of the slats or bars, this view constituting a modification in which the openings at the ends of the slats are circular, and constitute bores, as distinguished from the slots of F igures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows a further modification in which adjacent ends of alternate slats are perforated and the other slotted; Figure 5 shows a single slat perforated at one end and slotted at the other end.

In carrying out the invention I provide Serial No. 516,794.

a top board 10 and a bottom board 12, these elements being of corresponding size and usually square or rectangular in configuration, and each of these members has an opening such as an aperture 13 near each corner portion.

The side walls are built up in the manner illustrated and described in detail below, and wires 14 or other flexible connecting securing devices are passed through the openings 13 in the top board, and adapted to engage all the openings in the end portions of the slats and to pass through the apertures 12 in the board 12.

The wires or similar flexible members pass diagonally below the board 12 and may also pass diagonally across the upper board 10, the ends being secured by twisting as shown at 15 and 16. It is obvious that any suitable means of connecting the wires or other flexible devices may be resorted to.

Special attention is directed to formation of the side walls, and in the primary form I employ slats 18 having a slotted end portion 19, the slots being open as shown toward the ends of the slats, and the wire 14 or the vertical portions thereof are engaged by the slotted ends of the slats or bars 18; and in view of the manner of building up the structure, alternate bars on one side rest upon adjacent bars at an angle-all of the slats will be held securely when tension is placed upon the wires 14. Before the top 10 is applied, any suitable means may be resorted to for holding the wires 14 in taut condition, so that the bars will be retained in the position desired. Elements of this kind are shown at 1 In the form shown in Figure 3 the slat has a body portion rectangular in cross section, as before, but the ends of the slats are provided with round or simple apertures 19 the slats thus formed being designated as 18. In practical use, the elements are employed in much the same manner as would be apparent in connection with the structure of Figures 1 and 2.

hat I claim is:

A crate comprising a plurality of bars each having openings at the end portions thereof,

the bars being assembled to form the walls of a structure angular in cross section, wherein the corners include the end portions of the bars at an angle with each other, and flexible 6 devices engaging the end portions at the respective corners, the flexible devices passing through the openings of the bars, being connected with each other at the upper portion of the structure, and secured to the lower por- 10 tion thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANDREW J. lWERRITT. 

